The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city has achieved good progress as it welcomes its 10th anniversary in 2018. There is increasing vibrancy as more people and companies relocate to the Eco-city. Singapore and China have agreed to jointly form an expert panel to look into development strategies that will take the Eco-city to greater heights.

This Joint Expert Panel will advise the Eco-city on how to achieve its vision and harness opportunities arising from China's national priorities and strategies, such as the Jing-Jin-Ji Integrated Development and the 13th Five-Year Plan. It can also provide guidance on strategic issues that require inputs from domain experts and practitioners from the private sector.

Minister for National Development and Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong said, "The collaboration to set up the Joint Expert Panel is a demonstration of Singapore's continued support for the Tianjin Eco-city project. We will be tapping on the rich experience and constructive ideas of both Singapore and Chinese experts to further propel the Eco-city's development, making it a forerunner in sustainable development in China, with the aim of replicating the model in other parts of China and beyond."

At the 9th Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city Joint Steering Council Meeting held on 27 February 2017, Singapore and China reaffirmed the achievements of the Eco-city, and reiterated their commitment to the Eco-city's continued development and success.

Under the witness of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and his Chinese counterpart Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, the Ministry of National Development and the People's Republic of China Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on formation of the Joint Expert Panel to advise the Eco-city. The panel will comprise experts from the government and private sectors, academic institutions and research organisations.

Minister Lawrence Wong and Tianjin Mayor Wang Dongfeng also witnessed the signing of another four MOUs and a strategic framework agreement on 26 February 2017, covering water resources management, digital media collaboration, medical health collaboration, R&D collaboration, and implementation of the Smart City Master Plan.

Please refer to the Annex for background information on Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.